HCM CITY — The head of the HCM City Food Safety Management Board has said inspections will be stepped up to ensure food safety.

Phạm Khánh Phong Lan, speaking at a conference on food manufacturers’ responsibilities on Saturday, said food safety is important for the socio-economic development of the city, which has seen an enhancement of health and origin inspections in the past few years and increase in the number of modern abattoirs and other facilities.

There would be more health and origin inspections, especially of smaller businesses and craft villages, which still use traditional manual methods, and authorities would throw the book at violations like poor health standards and use of unapproved chemicals and ingredients with unclear origins, she promised.

Inspectors would focus on markets and producers in less developed areas, especially pork producers, and strictly enforce rules on disposing of pigs injected with certain chemicals, she said.

All district administrations would dispatch more inspection teams to deal with unregistered street vendors, who she said pose the risk of food poisoning.

“We also need to pay more attention to large cafeterias, meals provided to workers at industrial parks, and areas with a high risk of mass food poisoning such as schools and businesses.”

Triệu Lệ Khánh, deputy chairwoman of the city’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front, urged the media and businesses to raise awareness of food safety at businesses and craft villages and remind them of their responsibility to customers rather than pursue profit.

The public should be educated on tips to avoid food poisoning – such as buying food only from safe sources – and provided with certain cooking tips, Khánh said. – VNS